Psychopathology key terms

Psychopathology

The scientific study of psychological disorders

Cultural relativism

The view that behaviour cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates

Deviation from social norms

A way to define abnormality that looks at behaviour in comparison to the expected and approved ways of behaving in a society. A violation of these norms would result in a label of abnormality

DSM

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, used by psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders

Statistical infrequency

A way to define abnormality by looking at the percentage of that behaviour shown in a population. Statistically rare behaviour is classed as abnormal

Deviation from ideal mental health

A way to define abnormality that focuses on criteria for mental healthiness. If a person fails to achieve one of the 6 criteria proposed, they are classed as abnormal

Failure to function adequately

A way to define abnormality where if a person is failing to cope with everyday demands they are classed as abnormal. The decision about coping is based on identifying with one or more of seven characteristics proposed by Rosenhan and Seligman e.g. suffering

Depression

A mood disorder where people lack interest in activities and may have irrational negative thought

Phobias

An anxiety disorder where a particular stimulus causes high levels of anxiety and affects everyday functioning

OCD

An anxiety disorder where people have persistent thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours that are repeated (compulsions) to try to relieve anxiety

Classical conditioning

Learning through association. This can explain how phobias develop

Operant conditioning

Learning through reinforcement. This can explain how phobias are maintained

Two-process model

A theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development of phobias. They begin through classical conditioning and are maintained through operant conditioning.

Flooding

A form of behavioural therapy where a patient is exposed to the most extreme form of their fear

Systematic desensitisation

A form of behavioural therapy where a patient is gradually exposed to their fear and learns to relax in its presence

ABC model

A cognitive approach to explaining mental disorders focusing on the effect of irrational beliefs on emotions, e.g. can explain depression.

Negative triad

A cognitive approach to understanding depression focusing on a patients negative thoughts about themselves, the world, and the future

Schema

A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret information ‘a mental map’

CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy- a way to change thoughts by challenging them and this in turn will help to change behaviour

Concordance rate

A measure of genetic similarity. In twin studies, if a disorder is caused by genes a;one you would expect 100% concordance for a disorder in MZ (identical) twins and 50% concordance in DZ (non-identical) twins

Dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline

All examples of neurotransmitters. These are chemical messengers in the brain. An imbalance of chemical messengers is linked to mental disorders, e.g. low levels of serotonin are linked to OCD